Tool for notching the edge of frangible sheet material

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a manually operated partition removal tool for removing a part of a plastic partition between each adjoining pair of a plurality of pairs of chambers provided in a cellular plastic fluid circuit plate to form therein one or more passageways of any configuration when this fluid circuit plate is interposed between and secured to an upper and lower flat cover plate to form a circuit module for fluid distribution from a source of fluid pressure to a plurality of logic control valve devices that may be mounted on one of the cover plates by any suitable means. This partition removal tool comprises a transparent plastic cylindrical member through which extends, as by a press fit, a metallic rod the length of which is such that each end thereof protrudes a short distance from the corresponding face of the cylindrical member. A suitable handle is secured to one end and the opposite end is provided with a slot the width of which is substantially equal to the thickness of the partitions in the cellular plastic fluid circuit plate. The length of this slot is greater than the length of that protruding portion of the metallic rod in which this slot is formed thereby enabling the adjacent face of the cylindrical member to always abut the outer ends of a plurality of partitions in the fluid circuit plate whenever this slot is placed in straddling relation to any selected partition in the fluid circuit plate. When this partition removal tool is so placed that this slot straddles a selected partition in the fluid circuit plate, this selected partition between two adjacent chambers in the circuit plate may be then severed from the circuit plate and removed from between these chambers by the manual exertion of a torque or turning moment in either direction on the handle of this partition removal tool.

United States Patent Olson 14 1 May 20, 1975 1 TOOL FOR NOTCHING THEEDGE OF FRANGIBLE SHEET MATERIAL [75] Inventor: Paul E. Olson,Lexington, Ky.

[73] Assignee: American Standard Incorporated, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 340,389

[52] US. Cl 225/102; 29/240 [51] Int. Cl B26f 3/00 [58] Field of Search225/1, 102; 29/283, 240, 29/278; 81/3 F, 121 R, 125; 7/1 F; 408/95;83/520 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,190,250 6/1965Hinden 29/283 UX 3.211.039 10/1965 Sheetz 83/520 Primary ExaminerAndrewR. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden Attorney, Agent, or FirmW. F.Poore; R. W. Mclntire. Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a manually operated partitionremoval tool for removing a part of a plastic partition between eachadjoining pair of a plurality of pairs of chambers provided in acellular plastic fluid circuit plate to form therein one or morepassageways of any configuration when this fluid circuit plate isinterposed between and secured to an upper and lower flat cover plate toform a circuit module for fluid distribution from a source of fluidpressure to a plurality of logic control valve devices that may bemounted on one of the cover plates by any suitable means. This partitionremoval tool comprises a transparent plastic cylindrical member throughwhich extends, as by a press fit, a metallic rod the length of which issuch that each end thereof protrudes a short distance from thecorresponding face of the cylindrical member. A suitable handle issecured to one end and the opposite end is provided with a slot thewidth of which is substantially equal to the thickness of the partitionsin the cellular plastic fluid circuit plate. The length of this slot isgreater than the length of that protruding portion of the metallic rodin which this slot is formed thereby enabling the adjacent face of thecylindrical member to always abut the outer ends of a plurality ofpartitions in the fluid circuit plate whenever this slot is placed instraddling relation to any selected partition in the fluid circuitplate. When this partition removal tool is so placed that this slotstraddles a selected partition in the fluid circuit plate. this selectedpartition between two adjacent chambers in the circuit plate may be thensevered from the circuit plate and removed from between these chambersby the manual exertion of a torque or turning moment in either directionon the handle of this partition removal tool.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures mgmggumzmms 3,884,405

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TOOL FOR NOTCHING THE EDGE OF FRANGIBLE SHEET MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION In US. Pat. No. 3,760,844 issued Sept. 25, 1973, to Paul E.Olson et al, and assigned to the assignee of the present application,there is shown and described a circuit module for fluid distributionthrough which a source of fluid under pressure is connected to aplurality of logic control valve devices by means of passagewaysprovided by interconnected cells or chambers formed in a mouldedcellular plastic fluid circuit plate interposed between an upper and alower flat cover plate. One or more passageways, each of anyconfiguration, may be provided in the cellular plastic fluid circuitplate by removing a part or all of the plastic wall or partition betweeneach adjoining pair of a plurality of pairs of the cells or chambersthereby providing for the flow of fluid from a source of fluid underpressure via a passageway thus formed through the interconnected cellsor chambers in the circuit plate and passageways in the cover plates toa logic valve device removably mounted on one of the cover plates.

Accordingly, it is the general purpose of this invention to provide anovel partition removal tool for re moving a part of the plasticpartition between each adjoining pair of a plurality of pairs ofchambers provided in a cellular plastic fluid circuit plate and selectedto form therein a passageway when these partitions are so removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a novel andinexpensive manually operated partition removal tool is provided forremoving a part or all of the plastic partition or wall between eachadjoining pair of a plurality of pairs of chambers provided in acellular plastic fluid circuit plate and selected to form a passagewayof a desired configuration when these partitions are removed.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a partition removal tool constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan or top view of the partition removal tool shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a triangular type cellular plasticfluid circuit plate having formed in one side thereof a plurality oftriangular chambers, each chamber being separated from an adjacentchamber by a plastic wall or partition, with the partition removal toolshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in place to effect removal of a selected one ofthe partitions.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, showing how one end of acylindrical member of the partition removal tool abuts a plurality ofthe partitions while the tool is in the position to effect removal ofthe selected partition.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, a partition removal tool 1comprises a cylindrical member 2 that is constructed of some suitabletransparent material such as, for example, a transparent plastic. Thecylindrical member 2 is provided with a central bore 3 in which isreceived, as by a press-fit, a metallic stem or shaft 4 of smalldiameter. The length of the stem 4 is greater than the thickness of thecylindrical member 2 so that one portion 5 of this stem 4 extends belowa lower face 6 of the cylindrical member 2, and another portion '7extends above an upper face 8 of the member 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the portion 5 of the stem 4 is tapered in thedirection from the face 6 toward the lower end of this stem, and isprovided with a slot 9, it being noted that the length of this slot 9 ismade greater than the length of the portion 5 for a purpose hereinaftermade apparent.

As best shown in FIG. 4, a handle 10 in the form of a cylindrical rod isprovided substantially midway its ends with a bottomed bore 11 in whichis received the upper end of the portion 7 of the stem 4. The handle 10and portion 7 are provided with coaxial bores in which is received suchas, for example, a roll pin 12 which serves to rigidly secure the handle10 to the stem 4.

There is shown in FIG. 3 a. moulded cellular plastic circuit plate 13that has formed in its upper side a plurality of triangular chambers,each chamber being separated from an adjacent chamber by a plastic wall,the sides of which are tapered at an angle of, for example, 4". One ormore fluid pressure conducting passageways of any desired configurationcan be formed in the set of chambers in this circuit plate 13 byremoving, by use of the partition removal tool 1 constituting thepresent invention, the tapered plastic wall between each pair ofadjacent triangular chambers of a plurality of pairs of chambers in thisplate.

The thickness of each of the partitions separating each pair of adjacenttriangular chambers in the fluid circuit plate 13 is shown in FIG. 3, itbeing noted that these partitions are comparatively thin.

Moreover, the width of the slot 9 provided in the portion 5 of the stem4 of tool 1 is so selected that any one of the partitions in circuitplate 13 may be received in this slot 9 with a slight clearance.

To remove a selected wall or partition between two adjacent triangularchambers of the plurality of pairs of chambers that will constitute thepassageway in the circuit plate 13 when the partition between each pairof the plurality of pairs of chambers is removed, the tool 1 is heldabove the circuit plate 13 in such a position that when it is lowered ormoved downward until the lower face 6 of the cylindrical member 2 abutsa plurality of the partitions in the circuit plate 13, as shown in FIG.4, the selected partition will be disposed in the slot 9, or, in otherwords, the slotted portion 5 of the stem 4 will straddle the partitionthat has been selected for removal, it being noted that this selectedpartition in FIG. 4 is denoted by the numeral 14.

Now, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it is apparent that if either aclockwise or a counterclockwise torque is manually applied to the handle10 of the partition removal tool 1, the partition or wall 14 separatinga pair of adjacent chambers denoted in FIG, 3 by the numerals 15 and 16will be fractured or severed from the adjacent partitions so that thethus severed partition thereafter may be removed subsequent to movingthe tool 1 a substantial distance upward from the position in which itis shown in FIG. 4.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the partition or wall separatingeach adjacent pair of chambers of the plurality of pairs of chambersselected to form a passageway of a desired configuration in the circuitplate 13 can be removed in the same manner as described above for thepartition or wall 14.

Having now described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A partition removal tool for removing partitions in a fluid circuitplate having moulded therein a plurality of chambers, each separatedfrom each one of a plurality of surrounding adjacent chambers by apartition, said partitions being selectively removable to formpassageways extending through said chambers, said partition removal toolcomprising:

a. a stem having a slot of a chosen length extending inward from one endthereof and of sufficient width for receiving therein a selectedpartition separating a pair of adjacent chambers in the fluid circuitplate, wherein the improvement comprises:

b. a transparent member, one end of which constitutes a plane forming aright angle with the axis of said stem, disposed about said stem and sofixedly secured thereto at such a location intermediate the ends thereofthat when a partition selected by viewing through said transparentmember and separating a pair of adjacent chambers in the fluid circuitplate is disposed in said slot, said one end of said member abuts aplurality of other partitions in said circuit plate disposed insurrounding relation to said selected partition, and

c. a handle secured to the opposite end of said stem whereby a torqueapplied to said handle, while any selected partition is disposed in saidslot. is effective via said stem to sever said partition from thecircuit plate.

2. A partition removal tool, as recited in claim 1, in which therespective ends of said slot lie on opposite sides of said plane.

3. A partition removal tool, as recited in claim 1, furthercharacterized in that the length of that portion of said slot in saidone end of said stem extending beyond the corresponding end of saidmember is less than the length of a partition in the fluid circuitplate.

4. A partition removal tool, as recited in claim 1, furthercharacterized in that the diameter of said stem and the internaldiameter of said cylindrical member are so related as to provide a pressfit between said stem and said cylindrical member.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT N0. z wDATED May 20, 1975.

INVENTOR(5) 3 Paul E. Olson It is certified that error appears in theab0veidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby correctedas shown below:

Change the name of the assignee from "American Standard Incorporated" to-American Standard Inc.--

Signed and Scaled this twenty-sixth Of August 1 975 [SEAL] A rres t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Parentsand Trademarks

1. A partition removal tool for removing partitions in a fluid circuitplate having moulded therein a plurality of chambers, each separatedfrom each one of a plurality of surrounding adjacent chambers by apartition, said partitions being selectively removable to formpassageways extending through said chambers, said partition removal toolcomprising: a. a stem having a slot of a chosen length extending inwardfrom one end thereof and of sufficient width for receiving therein aselected partition separating a pair of adjacent chambers in the fluidcircuit plate, wherein the improvement comprises: b. a transparentmember, one end of which constitutes a plane forming a right angle withthe axis of said stem, disposed about said stem and so fixedly securedthereto at such a location intermediate the ends thereof that when apartition selected by viewing through said transparent member andseparating a pair of adjacent chambers in the fluid circuit plate isdisposed in said slot, said one end of said member abuts a plurality ofother partitions in said circuit plate disposed in surrounding relationto said selected partition, and c. a handle secured to the opposite endof said stem whereby a torque applied to said handle, while any selectedpartition is disposed in said slot, is effective via said stem to seversaid partition from the circuit plate.
 2. A partition removal tool, asrecited in claim 1, in which the respective ends of said slot lie onopposite sides of said plane.
 3. A partition removal tool, as recited inclaim 1, further characterized in that the length of that portion ofsaid slot in said one end of said stem extending beyond thecorresponding end of said member is less than the length of a partitionin the fluid circuit plate.
 4. A partition removal tool, as recited inclaim 1, further characterized in that the diameter of said stem and theinternal diameter of said cylindrical member are so related as toprovide a press fit between said stem and said cylindrical member.